Guest Blogger: Creative Ways to Decorate on a Small Budget

Guest Blogger #387, Entry #981, February 27, 2012

Are you in the mood to redecorate? Have you been walking through your house lately, thinking your walls could use some sprucing up? Maybe you’ve recently moved and thought that your once loved sofa looks absolutely horrible in its new living room. Whatever the reason you’ve caught the decorating bug, make sure that you don’t break the bank doing it. Here are some tips for those that want to redecorate, but want to do so within their budget:

Be creative with repurposing household decor

Image via: Free People

Repurpose

Just because your sofa doesn’t look at home in the living room doesn’t mean it won’t look fabulous in the family room! Sometimes something as simple as moving furniture from one room to another can give your home a whole new look. Take a gander around the house and see what you can move around. End tables can make great nightstands, the futon in the den can make a great bed for your child’s room, and those wall hangings in the kitchen might breathe a new life to your bathroom. Just because your furnishings have started off in one room doesn’t mean that they have to stay there.

Shop Small

Almost everyone has a flea market, thrift shop, or small home store near by. You don’t have to shop at high-end retailers to find great pieces. Sites like eBay are a treasure trove of decorating materials and, if you know what you’re looking for, take a peek at Craigslist and see what other people are trying to get rid of.

Get Creative

Think of new and unique ways to use items that others wouldn’t normally decorate with. If you’re going for a country theme, for instance, old farm tools can look interesting when hung on a wall. Old windows can make an interesting grouping on a large wall, and plates hung above your dining table lend your kitchen a kitschy look. Just because it doesn’t have a picture hanger tacked to the back doesn’t mean it can’t be hung!

Decorate your home on the cheap with reused items

Image via: Curbly

Cover It Up

Furniture can get a new look with slipcovers, tables can be covered with new tile, and door panels can be covered with wallpaper. You don’t always have to buy new to give your home a fresh look. Rather than tossing what you already own to the curb, look for ways that you can change its look. Decoupage is a fun way to bring out your old postcards, photos and mementos! Cover a tabletop, a kitchen chair or even a bulletin board with contact paper, postcards or even fabric.

Charge It!

Use your credit card, but use it wisely. Save your credit card for larger purchases that you simply can’t do without. Obviously, if your chair has worn springs or the dog has attacked your mattress, you’ll need to replace them. Use a zero percent interest card or look for a store that offers six or more months same-as-cash. You can pay for your larger purchases in small chunks!

Decorating on a budget is easy if you look for opportunities to be creative. Look for garage sales, browse flea markets and look to see what you can repurpose in your own home. You can make an old look become alive again, simply and cheaply.

Andrew Bennett is a financial counselor who understands how a granite card can help repair your damaged credit.

For more creative decorating ideas on Stagetecture, click here.